Homeland Security chief urges care in border rhetoric

Published 6:30 am, Saturday, February 12, 2011

WASHINGTON — Responding to Republican criticism about border security, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is asking congressional leaders to temper their comments intended for political gain and take a tour of communities along the U.S.-Mexico border.

"The situation on the border continues to be mischaracterized, and I am concerned that this is hurting the morale of our law enforcement personnel and the local economies of border towns," Napolitano said in documents that were obtained by the Houston Chronicle.

Napolitano sent invitations to GOP and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate saying it was important to "forge a constructive dialogue" on border security.

During Perry visit

"To be sure, challenges remain, and it is my hope that we can work together on a nonpartisan basis to address remaining challenges," Napolitano said.

She said a bipartisan, bicameral tour of the border this spring could be the catalyst for legislative efforts to improve security and facilitate trade.

Perry, as well as the state's two Republican senators, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, have complained that the Obama administration has failed to shore up security with additional federal law enforcement and technology.

"The response from the Homeland Security agency has been appalling. They are nonresponsive," Perry told Texas reporters following a breakfast Friday with the Texas State Society at the Capitol Hill Club.

'Bipartisan issue'

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, the chairman of the House Homeland Security subcommittee on investigations, told San Antonio business leaders last week that taking operational control of the border is a top priority.

McCaul said border security is a "bipartisan issue" that needs to be addressed because of the escalating violence in Mexico that stems from Mexican efforts to curtail the drug cartels.

"It is a war down there," McCaul said.

More than 34,000 people have died in Mexico since Mexican President Felipe Calderon launched a military initiative against narcotics cartels four years ago.

There were more than 15,000 killed last year alone, according to Mexican officials.

U.S. Homeland Security officials, however, say the violence remains in Mexico.

Last year, President Barack Obama ordered 1,000 National Guardsmen to the U.S.-Mexico border for analytical and support positions to free up Border Patrol agents for law enforcement work.

More than 250 of those Guardsmen were deployed along the border in Texas.

Additional Border Patrol agents are being hired that would bring the total to 21,700 agents, nationally.

"Over the past two years, we have made significant investments in securing the Southwest border," Napolitano told lawmakers. "Today, the Border Patrol is better staffed than at any time in its history."

Democrats with border districts have urged restraint in characterizations of security along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border.